Choosing a Flight Instructor

Discussion in 'Pilot Training' started by write-stuff, Jan 11, 2020.

  1. write-stuff

    write-stuff En-Route

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  2. eman1200

    eman1200 Touchdown! Greaser! PoA Supporter

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    I actually used the ‘find an instructor’ link on the gold seal website when I was looking for a double II. Couple of outdated references but overall a good list and very helpful. Thanks Russ!
     
  3. write-stuff

    write-stuff En-Route

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    Yeah, instructors are quick to join, but not so quick to keep their contact info current. We do email sweeps on occasion trying to keep the list current, but it's a tough job!
     
  4. Clip4

    Clip4 Final Approach

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    The link was good, but finding an independent CFI with an aircraft or access to a rental for primary training will be a challenge for many folks.
     
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  5. write-stuff

    write-stuff En-Route

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    Agreed. An independent must have access to aircraft. But I suspect the vast majority of instructors in the "Find a CFI" list either work at a flight school or do have access to rental airplanes.
     
  6. Brad W

    Brad W Pattern Altitude PoA Supporter

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    I think it might be interesting if there was a way in a directory like that to determine what sort of 'actual' experience an instructor has...
    What I mean is things like actual weather flying.
    I've flown with a lot of instructors over the years, that while great for basics, teaching theory, etc.... don't have the experience themselves or are just not inclined to help a student really experience real situation flying....to help a student or BFR pilot get better at making go or no-go decisions
     
  7. murphey

    murphey Touchdown! Greaser! PoA Supporter

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    I’m in the Find a CFII, not choosing one. In the Denver area, almost impossible.
     
  8. write-stuff

    write-stuff En-Route

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    I'm not sure what you're saying...
     
  9. denverpilot

    denverpilot Tied Down

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    Denver is extremely busy feeding airlines. To be more specific, finding instructors who aren’t fully booked for months, have a schedule that matches yours with their day job to earn a living in a city with a housing cost pushing the average underside of three quarters of a million bucks, aren’t leaving instructing for a real paying flight job soon, and are actually good at it.... AND also at least somewhat match your personal learning style... is fairly rough and has been for a while now.

    One way to do this was to be willing to spend more on long established places with low instructor turnover but at least one is now gone due to instructor ages and health issues sneaking up on them. Happens.

    With proper insurance as high as it is for independents, it’s a labor of love to burn every weekend to pay for the insurance to cover the assets earned at the day job. If one has even half the self preservation skills on the ground as we teach people to exercise in the air.

    Helpful? Denver is spendy. That’s the real bottom line... they’re predicting 8 million in the Front Range this year. Same number of flight clubs and approximately the same fleet sizes as when I started in 1991. Slightly larger but way more students.